We celebrated National Planting Day on Sept. 8 and will continue through the month of October. Working in the Reading Garden located at our offices in Midway and planting flowers and a couple of trees with some great volunteers was a Saturday well spent. So please stop by and enjoy our new relaxing area.

National Planting Day was established to promote planting and gardening but also awareness of the benefits of using native species in landscapes. Native plants are a natural and healthy way to create greener and more beautiful communities. There are many benefits for all of us to work toward having a greener community, and when we add native plants to the mix, there are even more benefits.

The People’s Garden Initiative and Keep America Beautiful are asking Americans to join in supporting local ecosystems by planting species native to their area this fall.

Fall is widely considered the best time of year to plant native species of trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and perennials. The term “native” refers to all species of plants naturally occurring, either presently or historically, in any ecosystem of the United States.

You can conserve water, protect soil from erosion and create habitat for wildlife simply by planting native species. A native plant garden also can supply a community with beautiful flowers and raise awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring local ecosystems for future generations.

National Planting Day celebrates the critical nature of native plants and trees in enhancing biodiversity and rebuilding ecosystems. Beautiful public places transcend aesthetic appeal to positively impact the lives of area residents, visitors, businesses and institutions. Green spaces restore our communities, helping to make them more environmentally healthy, socially connected and economically sound.

With a national focus on the first Saturday after Labor Day each September, National Planting Day continues with community-based activities through October. National Planting Day mobilizes citizens and organizations across the country to implement projects to increase native plantings in their communities.

We will be encouraging native planting this month by giving away native plants at the Liberty County Chamber Progress Through People luncheon and featuring local locations were native plants are located. Check out our website www.keeplibertybeautiful.org and Facebook to find out more.

We all win when we use native plants to green our environment.

And there is still time to reregister for Rivers Alive. Contact KLB at 912-880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga.com.